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Violence erupted here today with a mob storming and vandalizing a police station and blocking road traffic in protest against killing of a suspected liquor smuggler in a police encounter.

The suspected liquor smuggler, Munna, was killed this morning in an exchange of fire with police at Barsoi police station area of the district.

"Munna was sneaking into Katihar with liquor procured from Raiganj in the adjoining state of West Bengal. He opened fire at a police party which spotted him and was killed in retaliatory firing", Superintendent of Police, Katihar, Siddharth Mohan Jain said.

Sale and consumption of liquor is completely banned in Bihar since 2016 when the Nitish Kumar government brought in its prohibition policy.

"Munna's body was taken for post-mortem. Some locals took exception to the fact that family members were not informed before the body was taken away", the SP said.

"They vandalized the Barsoi police station and squatted on a nearby road demanding compensation to the next of the kin of the deceased besides suspension of the in-charge of Kachna outpost, who had led the police operation", the SP said.

After nearly six hours, the protesters were persuaded to give up their stir, the SP said adding that a magisterial probe has been ordered into the entire episode, "including the death of the suspected liquor smuggler as well as disruption of public order that followed".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)